Has Glasgow beaten Edinburgh in the creative stakes?

If Soho House opens in Glasgow, has it outdone Edinburgh?

Plans for Soho House

Ah the age old rivalry between Glasgow and Edinburgh. As the capital basks in tourism, the festival (dubbed Edinburgh’s month of culture by a west coast colleague) and sky high rental and property prices, Glasgow thrives on live music, arts, sporting championships and a falling down city centre. Both have become cultural hubs, with Edinburgh’s long awaited film studio finally coming to life in Leith and Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall being turned into a film studio back in September last year.

Both cities have played host to major blockbuster films, with Glasgow piping Edinburgh to the post thanks to huge names such as The Batman, Indiana Jones, 1917, Flash and World War Z, (even if we’re unlikely to ever see Bat Girl).

Now it seems that Glasgow has been chosen as the location of Soho House’s first Scottish private members club. Has our dear green place become the place for creatives in Scotland? Soho House is a global private member’s club that operates hotels and clubs across the world that was set up to draw members mainly from the media and arts industries.

Established and launched in London, there are now houses in New York, Spain, Italy, Greece and Mexico. Founder and former managing director, Nick Jones, had hinted years ago about opening a house in Scotland, thanks to his wife’s (Kirsty Young) roots. Young was born in East Kilbride and began her career in Glasgow. In an interview with The Times, Mr Jones joked he had been “under pressure to do Glasgow from a certain quarter for some time”. While Jones is no longer involved with the business, plans to launch in Scotland have progressed.

The last few months have seen influencers and media personalities attend Cities Without Houses events in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, causing many to wonder where the first Scottish Soho House will open. But it seems that Scotland’s biggest city has been chosen over its biggest rival. These plans show that the Glasgow Soho House will have a Soho Lounge, Winter Garden and Collector’s Hall Bar on the ground level, the Soho Kitchen restaurant on the second floor, a club and supporting accommodation on the third floor, and a Soho Terrace and rooftop bar on the fourth level. This is all part of the Love Loan development in the Merchant City, and a vote of confidence at a time when many are wondering what the future of city centres will look like.

An announcement that Glasgow will be the next opening (the brand has announced Manchester recently) is expected later this month.

Last year a development manager for Soho House, who is from Glasgow, said the city was high on the list for new openings “on the back of the film industry taking over”. He added: “We are a hub for creative people, we are in the industries of media, film, arts, fashion, TV. People say ‘why don’t you go to Edinburgh?’. Edinburgh doesn’t have such a big film industry, it’s not the hub. The BBC is here, STV is here, Channel 4. We are appealing to those people in those industries to come and network.” So there you have it. The cynic may point to Edinburgh’s glorious Gleneagles Townhouse, and the competition it throws up, but regardless of the rivalry (and with my tongue firmly out of my cheek), this kind of investment into Glasgow, in a bid to bring more industry, jobs and creative minds to the city, is a win for all - no matter where your loyalties lie.